Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. is near a deal worth more than $60 billion to buy European drugmaker Shire PLC, having raised its bid four times in a sign of how ardently Japan’s legacy companies are chasing growth abroad as sales at home slow.
Shire said Wednesday it would recommend shareholders accept Takeda’s fifth offer—$30.33 in cash and 0.839 Takeda share for each Shire share—culminating a weekslong effort by the Osaka-based company. It has until May 8 to complete a deal.
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